Posted by iZ's mom on August 21, 2000 at 13:00:53:
In Reply to: Oral Syringe-Feeding posted by Lisa on August 21, 2000 at 11:42:35:
iZ doesn't like being syringe-fed and so he puts his nose waaaaaay up in the air in an attempt to get away from the syringe ... *that's* what causes probs! the liquid hits the back of the throat + scares them (am assuming cuz it feels like they're drowning!) try to keep his head at least level with the ground, nose a bit lower (pointing down) is even better and aim for the middle of the tongue rather than the back of the throat ...
remember his tongue + throat are very possibly swollen and so he's having a hard time swallowing ... go very very slowly! at his sickest (right after surgery), i was only able to give iZ 1/2cc at a time, wait + give him a chance to deal with that, and then another 1/2cc ... find a comfortable position and be prepared to be there for a while! between me + hubby, we spent a total of close to 2hrs a day syringe feeding iZ ... *whew* ... iZ amazed me + stayed willing as long as i went slow enough + didn't rush the next 1/2cc ... (i was getting an average of 100cc of various goodies into him per day) ...
definitely get something like "Ensure" to get some calories into him too ...
oh! i also taught iZ different words for the different things he was getting so he knew what to expect ... i'd tell him "nummy" or "drink" + let him smell the syringe before i put it in his mouth ... + i warned him when it was gonna be "medicine" that he especially didn't like so he knew to be brave ...
hope this helps some ... (am at work + so can't check my e-mail til late afternoon ... )
lots of hugs + bobobobobs to you + Stevie!!!
Bon. + iZ